settled 4th, 5th after 3rd, detached after 6th, closer in 5th before 8th where not fluent, 4th at 10th, ridden and headway in 4th before 2 ou
soon led, not fluent at 4th, close up 3rd at 6th, 2nd at 8th, mistake at 9th and soon dropped to 4th, last at 10th, detached 4 out, no extra, completely tailed off
soon 2nd, led at 5th, 2nd at 6th, 3rd at 8th, improved to 2nd after 9th, mistake and dropped to 3rd at 11th, pushed along after 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leader in 3rd, 4th after 4th, 3rd before 10th, 2nd after 11th, mistake at 12th, pushed along and on terms before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression in 2nd, kept on same pace
held up 5th, 4th after 3rd, jumped into 3rd at 4th, led at 6th, joined before 2 out, travelled well and went clear 2 out, mistake at last, comfortably
RULE THE WORLD has finished runner-up in three of his four starts over fences and has come up against useful opposition. He had Val De Ferbet around 5l behind when well beaten by Wounded Warrior at Naas and he should again take care of Willie Mullins' charge and gain that elusive first victory over fences. Bishops Road looked to be going the right way after his success at Leopardstown but didn't build on it at Naas where the testing ground may have been responsible. Aerlite Supreme started out very well over fences before jumping problems got in the way and he had a confidence booster over timber at Naas earlier this month. Point-to-point, bumper and hurdles winner Big Kern will need to step up on what he's shown to date over fences.
Aerlite Supreme (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, 16th of 17, 48l behind Fletcher (10-11) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl.
Big Kern (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd from 5th, jumped right next and at 8th, almost on terms from 10th, jumped right 3 out, no impression approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Azorian (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f beg chase hvy.
Bishops Road (IRE) 9-2fav (11-1) Close up, mistake 2nd, led after 5th, headed from 7th, 2nd before straight, still chased winner 2 out, no impression in 3rd at last, one pace, 5th of 15, 11l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs in Feb.
Rule The World 4-1 (11-2) Held up behind leaders, mainly 3rd, reminders after 7th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on into 2nd after 2 out, kept on run-in, pressed winner close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Fine Rightly (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Val De Ferbet (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Led, headed after 1st, regained lead 3rd, bad mistake 4 out and headed, regained narrow lead next, ridden and headed before 2 out where slight mistake, dropped to 4th last, no extra run-in, last of 5, 15l behind Wounded Warrior (11-5) at Naas 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan.
